Reduction-gearing.



G. WESTINGHOUSE.

REDUCTION GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED APR. l8. 19m.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

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HIS ATTORNEY IN FACT.

G. WESTINGHOUSE.

REDUCTION GEARING.

APPLICATION mm mi. 38. mo.

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Patented Apr. 2

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GEORGE WESTHVGHOUSE, 0F PITTSBURGH,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO THE WESTINGHQUSE GEAR AND DYNAHOMETEB COIPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

REDUCTION-(HEARING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

Application flied April 18, 1910. Serial No. 558,149.

lb all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnouon Wns'rmc- HOUSE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have made a new and useful Invention in Reduction-Gearing, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to reduction gearing for transmitting power from high speed engines or motors to apparatus operating at lower speeds- An object of this invention is to produce reduction gearing emp by the gear tooth pressures are automatically equalized and distributed.

A further object is to produce reduction gearing in which simple means are employed for counter-balancing by fluid pressure agents the strains in either direction due to the tooth pressure between the intermeshing gears, and in which simple means are employed for permitting relative angular motion between the intermeshing gears of the gear.

Turbines operate most efiiciently at relatively high speeds and ships propellers operate most efliciently at relatively low speeds, consequently, in order to obtain the best efiiciency when turbines are employed in marine propulsion it is necessary to employ a.

reduction gearing between the turbine and the propeller. To this end I have Provided a driving member which may be connected to the turbine shaft and from which power may be delivered by the turbine to a more slowly revolving shaft by means of a pinion or pair of pimons which may be journaled in a floating frame and which intermesh with a gear wheel or a pair of gear wheels. The floating frame is supported on the base frame or bed of the gearing device so that it is free to assume different positions both in a horizontal or a vertical plane for the purpose of adjusting the position of the pinion shaftv relative to the shaft of the gears and of thereby equalizing and equally distributing the tooth pressure along the teeth and between the diflerent sets of intermeshing gears of the reduction gearing.

For the purpox of illustration, I have shown the device as consisting of a spur gearing including a gear and an intermeshing pinion in which the pinion is journaled in a fluid supported floating frame which loying means wherepermits the pinion to assume different angular positions relative to the gear in response to variations of tooth pressure encountered, wherebv the pressures are proportionately distributed.

In the apparatus illustrated as an embodiment of my invention, the pinion is shown as having two sets of oppositely disposed spiral teeth and the gear likewise has two corresponding sets of spiral teeth. The floating frame of the pinion is supported on fluid actuated pistons so arranged that the fluid pressure employed to counterbalance the tooth pressure between the inter-meshing gears will be automatically controlled so that it varies with variations in the tooth pressure.

Further advantages, as well as novelty of construction, will be specifically described hereinafter, it being understood that changes in form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without de parting from the spirit of my invention or sacrificin any of its advantages.

In the rawings accompanying this application and forming a part thereof, Figure 1 is a sectional view along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 and shows the position of the fluid actuated supports, a pinion, a gear with which it meshes and a strut for holding the pinion and gear in proper mesh; and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 22 of Fi 1.

fieferrin to the.drawings: The gear 11 is journals in a base framegr bed 10 of any suitable form and meshes with a suitable pinion journaled in a suitable floating or fluid-supported frame 20. The pinion is mounted on a shaft 29, which is adapted-to be directly connected to the shaft of a turbine or any prime mover, and the ear is mounted on a shaft, which is adapte to be coupled to apropeller shaft, or to the shaft of any apparatus to be driven.

The floating frame 20, as illustrated, is formed in two sections 21 and 22 whichare secured together in any suit able manner and are respectively provided with centrally located projwtions 23 and 24 for engaging the base 10 and holding the floating frame in pivotal relation with the base. Each projcction is provided with a curved face, one

'of which engages a bearing '25, while the other engages a bearing 26 formed on the frame, and thereby permits the frame 20 to move with a mlatively great amount of pistons for the floating frame are mounted n the apparatus illustrated, six cylinders, 12, 13, 1+1, 36, 37, and 38 are employed and cooperate with the respective pistons 12", 13", 14", 36, 37", and 38", which support the floating frame. The cylinders are arranged in two sets, three being located on one side and three on the other side of the float ng frame 20, and the pistons of the respective sets are arranged-to operate in opposite d1- rections so that one set of pistons supports the frame when the pinion is rotated in a clockwise direction and the frame is consequently subjected to forces acting in one direction, while the other set operates to support the frame or counterbalance the forces transmitted to it, when the pinion is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction.

In the present embodiment of my invention the pressure cylinders 12, 13, and 14, and their cooperating pistons, are adapted to resist downwardly acting forces and tocounterbalance the forces resulting from a counter-clockwise rotation of the pinion when the pinion is employed as the driving gear of the transmission gearing. The pistons 12 and 13 ma be termed the end so porting pistons, while the piston 14" may termed the intermediate supporting piston of the lower set of pistons, and, as illustrated, each of the pistons is adapted to enge a suitable bearing face or surface firmed on the frame 20 and to directly support the frame. As illustrated, the intermediate piston 14 has about twice the crosssectional area of either of the end pistons since the greatest pressure resulting from tooth pressure is encountered at this point. The function of the end pistons is to aid in supporting the frame 20 and in counterbalancing the forces transmitted thereto and also to permit the frame to move about its pivotal connection with the bed 10 so as to equalize tooth pressures along the intermeshing teeth of the pinions and gear.

The cylinders may, 'as illustrated, be formed in the base 10 by casting; that is, they may be cored in the casting forming the base and a' lining or bushing 18 may be provided for each cored cylinder and held in place by any suitable means, as, for example, by screws 19.

The cylinders, 12, 13, and 14 are adapted to be supplied with a suitable fluid, for example. oil, through a passage 15, and the respective ports 12, 13, and 14. In the apparatus illustrated, the passage 15 is formed within the base 10 and receives fluid from a pipe 17 through a restricted orifice 16. The ports 12', 13', and 14 are of ample area to insure that the pressure in each of the c0mmunicating cylinders will equal or very closely a proximate that in the passage 15.

One 0 the cylinders, preferably the cylindcr 14, is provided with a discharge or delivery port 28, which forms a restricted outlet for the oil from the passage 15 and there fore controls ordetermines the pressure within the passage and within the communicatin cylinders; it being understood that the pressure transmitted to the supply pipe 17 is substantially constant. The discharge port 28 is controlled by a flange 27 formed on the floating frame, which, in effect, serves as a valve for restricting the flow through the port 28 and the delivery of the oil to a flow-off (not shown) with which the base 10 is provided. Oil is pumped continuously an,

at a constant pressure into the passage 15 through the restricted port 16, and thence into the cylinders where it performs the functions, through the agency of the pistons 12", 13", and 14", of supporting the floating frame and counterbalancinigT the downward forces acting upon the mac. The passage 28 and its controllin flange vary the discharge of oil from the aid distribution system, which-includes the cylinders,

and consequently vary the hydraulic pressures withm.the cylinders. The flange 27 moves with the frame 20 in response to variations in the forces transmitted to the frame or to variations in the tooth pressure between the gears, and consequently the hydraulic pressure within the cylinders is varied in response to variations in tooth pressure between the has been described, each is mounted within a' coiperating cylinder provided in the bed 10. These cylinders constitute the upper set in the illustrated embodiment of the invention and they communicate with a substantially constant source of fluid pressure through a passage 39, formed in the bed frame and corresponding to the passage 15 which had been previously described. The passage 39 is, like the passage 15, provided with ports of adequate dimensions for delivering liquid to the cylinders 36, 37, and 38 and to maintain the pressure in the cylinders. It is also provided with a restricted inlet port. corresponding to the port 16, through which the pressure transmitting liquid is admitted, and the cylinder 38, 1S rovided with a discharge port corres on ing to the port 28. The frame is provi ed with a flange similar to the flange 27 which cotiperates with the port to vary the discharge of liquid from the cylinder 38 in accordance with variations in the position of the floating frame.

The operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows: When the pinion is rotated in a counterclockwise direction and is employed as the driving agent of the gearing, the forces occasioned by the tooth pressure between the pinion and the gear tend to move the frame 20 downwardly in opposition to the fluid pressure actuatin the'pis tons 12, 13", and 14" and to seat e flange 27 on the port 28. is the frame 20 moves downwardly, the flange 27 restricts the delivery of liquid from the port 28 more and more, and consequently causes: pressure to increase in the passage 15 and all of the communicating cylinders. The pressure increases in an inverse ratio to the discharge of liquid through the port 28 and, by employing a sufliciently large pressure at the source of the pressure, the supporting .pistons of the frame may be so arranged that the flange 27 will never wholly. close theport 28 and the frame 20 will nevercome to a positive seat on the bed but will always be supported upon thebod of fluid and will practically float upon t e fluid so that the strains will be taken up by the fluid confined in the respective cylinders and the pressure will be properly distributed betw een the different bodies of I fluid contained in the diflerent cylinders. If, for any reason, the tooth pressure between the intermeshing teeth located at one end or the other, for example, the right hand end of the reduction gearing (Fig.2) exceeded the. tooth pressure of the intermeshing teeth at the other end of the gearin the piston 13* would assume a greater loa than that carried by the piston 12", if the floating frame were not capable of adjusting itself about its pivotal connection with the bed 10, and if the cylinder 13 were not in open communication with the cylinder 12. The load borne' by each of the end pistons in the apparatus illustrated will be substantially, equal and it is impossible, with the hydraulic system employed, for oneend iston to assume a substantially ater loa thanthe other end piston, since t e-pistons are of substantially the same cross-sectional area, and the fluid pressure in each actuating cylinder is always equal to the fluid pressure in the other cylinders of the same set, consequently the end pistons mgveto adjust t e load. equally between them and will thereby shift the angular 'tion of the floating ,framei As the angu 'ar positiou'o'fthe frame is changed,

the position; of the pinion carried by it it? 'ponderance of pressure.

also varied andi a gear provided with two sets of teeth correspondin'gly located, but it will be understood that the action of the frame in equalizing the tooth pressure along the length of the teeth will be just as eflective if the gear teeth extended the entire length of the gear and the pinion.

When the pinion is rotated in a clockwise direction and is employed as the driving agent of the gear 11, the forces occasioned'by the tooth pressure and transmitted to the frame are opposed by the fluid pressure in the cylinders 36, 37, and 38 through the agency of the pistons 36", 37", and 38". This pressure is controlled by variations in the position of the frame in exactly the same way that the pressure transmitted to the lower set of pistons is controlled and consequently the frame is supported by a fluid cushion and the forces transmitted to the frame are resisted by fluid pressure and the frame is free to move for the purpose of equalizing the pressure along the teeth and of varying the fluid pressure so that it automatically counterbalances the tooth pressure. If, while the pinion is operating as described, the tooth pressure decreases, the fluid pressure actuating the supportin pistons will preponderate for an instant an the pistons, and consequently the frame 20, willmove in response to the preponderance, but in so doing the restricting flange is moved away from the discharge port it controls and the increasing flow of oil through "the discharge passage will decrease the pressure within the pistons and destroy the pre- In addition to this, a movement of the frame 20, away from one set of cylinders, is a movement toward the other set, and in opposition to the gradually increasin fluid pressure within the cylinders of tfiat set, and the two sets of cylinders cooperate with each other to maintain the frame in a substantially central position between them, and to counterbalance strains acting in either direction and occasioned by tooth pressure or other forces.

In order to prevent the angular movement of the floating frame in a horizontal plane and still to permit sufficient angular motion in a plane perpendicular to the plane defined byl the axes of the pinion and the gear when t ey are located in their normal relative positions, I have provided, as illustrated in Fig. 1, a strut, of which there may be any suitable number, which projects through the wall 32 of the base frame 10.

The strut may conveniently consist of a holto the plane of the axes of the teriorly to engage interior threads in the wall 32 of the use frame so that a micrometer adjustment may be made, and the fioating frame ma be so adjusted with respect to the gear at a proper engagement of the teeth of the pinion and the gear will be maintained and at the same time vertical angular movement of the pinion, relatively ear and pinion, will not be retarded. In t e apparatus illustrated, I have provided a suitable pressure gage 41, which communicates with the passage 15 and which will form the function of a dynamometer, since it will record the varying pressures within the gassage and consequently within the cyliners.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a gearing device, a gearja pinion meshing therewith, and a. fluid actuated supporting means for thepin' constructed so as to'allow relative I F motion between the gear and the pmipn in a. plane substantially at right angles to the plane defined by the normal positions of the axes of the gear and pinion. Y

2. In a gearing device, a gear, a pinion meshing therewith, and fluid actuated sup porting means for thelpinion constructed so as to allow relative angular motion between said gear and pinion in a plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the normal positions of the axes of the gear and pinion.

3. In a gearing device a gear, a inion meshing therewith and lluid actua supporting means fox-said inion constructed and arranged so that sai pinion is capable of being moved by the tooth Pressure encountered duringan operation 0 the gearing to permit oi the automatic distribution of such pressure. 7

' 4. In a gearing device, a. vgear, -a. pinion meshing therewith, and fluid actuated supporting means for the pinion constructed so as to allow relative angular motion between said gear and said pinion in a. plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the normal positions of the axis of the gear and the axis of the pinion. I

5. In a gearing device, a gear, a pinion meshing therewith, a frame carrying the pinion, fluid actuated supporting means for the frame, constructed so as to allow relative angular motion between said gear and said pinion in a plane defined by the normal positions perpendicular to the plane of the axis of the gear and the axis of the pinion.

6. In gearing, a gear, a pinion meshing therewith, fluid actuated means supporting said pinion, conitructed so as to allow relative angular m0 ion between said gear and said pinion in a plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the normal positio of the axis of the gear and the axis of the pinion, and means preventing motion of said pinion in the plane of the axis of the gear and the axis of the pinion.

7. In gearing, a gear, a pinion meshing therewith, and fluid actuated supporting means constructed so as to allow relative angular motion between said gear and said pinion, due to tooth pressures, during operation in a plane perpendicular to the plane.

defined by the normal positions of the axes of the ear and pinion to permit of automatic distribution of the tooth pressures.

Ina gearing, a gear, a pinion intermeshing therewith, a frame in which said pinion is mounted, and a fluid actuated piston supporting said frame whereby said pinion is movable relatively to the gear in a plane at right angles to the plane defined by the normal positions of the axes of the gear and pinion.

9. In gearing, a gear, a pinion, a frame in which the pinion is mounted, a fluid actuated piston on which the frame is supported and means responsive to the variations oi tooth pressure between the gear and pinion for increasing or decreasing the fiuid pressure against the piston.

10. pair of cooperating gears, one of which is fluid supported in such a manner as to be capable of moving in a plane substantially pe ndicular to the plane defined by the norma positions of the axes of said gears.

11. A pair of cooperating gears and fluid supporting means for one of said gearsconstructed so as to allow said gear to be capable of movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the normalpositions of the axes of the gears.

12. A pair of cooperating gears, a mounting frame for one of said gears and a fluid support for said mounting frame constructed so as to be capable of mdrement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the normal positions of the axes of said gears.

13. A pair of cooperating gears, fluid supporting means for one of said gears, means for continuously supplying pressure to said supporting means and for automatically maintaining the supporting pressure in acrordance with the tangential force producing or resisting the rotary motion of said gears.

14. A pair of coiiperating gears, a mounting frame for one 0 the gears, fluid .;ctuatcd supporting means for said frame, moans for delivering actuating fluid to said supporting means, and means for automatically varying the pressure of the fluid delivered in accordance with variations in the tangential force producing or resisting the rotary motion of the gears.

13. A pair of cooperating gears. a mounting flame for one of said gears, m ans for floating said frame on fluid under pressure and means for automatically varying the pressure of the supporting fluid in accordance with variations in the tangential force producing or resisting the rotary motion of said gears.

1 16. A pair of cooperating gears, a mounting frame for one of the said gears, one or more pistons for supporting said frame, means for subjecting said piston or pistons to fluid under pressure in such a manner that the supporting pressure is automatically maintained in accordance with the tangential force producing or resisting the rotary motion of said gears.

17. A pair of cooperating gears, a mounting frame for one of said gears, one or more pistons for supporting said frame, means for floating said piston or pistons on fluid under pressure and means for limiting the movement of said supporting frame to a plane perpendicular to the plane including the axes of said gears.

18. A pair of cooperating gears, a mounting frame for one of said gears and means for supporting said mounting frame on fluid under pressure in such manner that the tooth pressures encountered during operation of, the gearing are automatically distributed.

19. A pair of cooperating gears, a mounting frame for one of said gears, and means for continuously supplying fluid pressure for supporting said frame, said means be ing constructed so that said pressure is automatically maintained in accordance with the tangential force producing or resisting the rotary motion of said gears.

20. In a transmission gearing, a gear, a pinion meshing therewith, and oppositely acting fluid actuated supporting means for the pinion constructed to allow relative movement between said gear and said pinion.

21. In a transmission gearing, intermeshing gears, two sets of oppositely operating fluid actuated devices between which one of said gears is mounted, constructed to allow relative movement between the gears.

22. In a transmission gearing, intermeshing gears, a frame on which one of said gears is journaled, fluid actuated pistons for supporting said frame, and struts engaging the frame and substantially limiting its motion to a plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the normal positions of the axes of the gears.

23. In a transmission mechanism, intermeshing gears, a plurality of fluid pressure supported means for movably supporting one of said gears, and means for limiting the motion of the movablv supported gear to a plane substantially at right-angles to the plane defined by the normal relative posi tions of the axes of the gears.

24. In a transmission gearing, iniermeshing gears, a plurality of fluid prcssue supported means for movably supporting one of said gears, whereby the movably supported gear is capable of movement in a. plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the normal positions of the axes of the gears, and means for delivering fluid of equal pressure to all of said supporting means.

25. In a transmission gearing, a gear, a. pinion meshing therewith, fluid supported oppositely disposed means for movably holding said pinion to counterbalance strains in either direction occasioned by the tooth pressure between said gear and said pinion,

and means limiting the relative angular motion between the gear and the pinion.

26. In a transmission gearing, intermeshing gears, a frame on which one of said gears is journaled two sets of oppositely operating fluid actuated pistons for movably holding said frame, and means for varying the pressure of the actuating fluid in each set of pistons.

27. In a transmission gearing, intermeshing gears, a frame on which one of said gears is journaled, two sets of oppositely disposed fluid actuated means between which said frame is mounted and means for varying the amount and effective directions of the force exerted by the two sets of fluid actuated means on said frame.

28. In a transmission gearing, intermesh ing gears, a frame on which one of said gears is journaled, a set of separate fluid actuated means for movably supporting said frame, means for transmitting substantially the same fluid pressure to each of said fluid actuated means of the set, and means responsive to variations in the tooth pressure between the gears for varying the pressure of the fluid transmitted.

29. In a. transmission gearing, intermeshing gears, a frame on which one of said gears is mounted, fluid pressure actuated means for movably supporting said frame, a fluid system transmitting substantially the same fluid pressure to each of said supporting means, means for varying the pressure in said system in response to variations in the tooth pressure between the gears, and struts for substantially limiting the motion of the frame to a single plane.

30. A transmission gearing com risingintermeshing gears, a plurality of yielding supports for one of said gears, whereby the gear so supported is movable at an angle relatively to the axis of the other gear and in a lane substantially at right angles to the p ane defined by the normal positions of the axes of both the gears.

31. In a transmission gearing, intermeshing gears, a frame on which one of the gears is journaled, a set of separate fluid actuated means for movably supporting said frame so as to permit relative angular motion between the gears in the plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the normal positions of the axes of the gears, and means for transmitting equal fluid pressure to each of said fluid actuated means and for varying thepressure of the fluid transmitted.

32. In a transmission gearing, intermeshing gears, a frame on which one of the gears is journaled, oppositely operating and oppositely disposed sets of fluid actuated means, between Which-said frame is located for transmitting substantially the same fluid pressure to the separate fluid actuated means of each set, and means for varying the pressure of the fluid transmitted to the means of each set.

33. In a reduction gearing, intermeshing gears, fluid actuated supporting means for one of the gears constructed to allow angular motion of one gear relatively to the axis of the other, and means responsive to variations in tooth ressure between the gears for controlling t e pressure of the actuating fluid delivered to said supporting means.

34. In a reduction gearing, intermeshing gears, fluid actuated supporting means for one of the gears, constructed to allow angular motion of one gear relatively to the axis of the other, means for admitting a constant supply of actuating fluid to said supporting means, and means responsive to variations in the tooth pressure between the intermeshing gears, for controlling the pres sure of the actuating fluid.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of April,

GEO. WESTINGHOUSE.

Witnesses:

C. W. MGGHEE, B. M. Fnao.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,136,072, granted April 20, 1915,

upon the application of George Westinghouse, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for an imprhvement in lieduetionlieering," errors appear in the printed pecification requiring correlation as follows: Page 4, line 56, after the word plnne insert the wurrls m' nnrlirn ur to implant; same page, line 57, strike out the words perpen- (linnlnr tn the plane": and that the said Letters Patent should he read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent ()tlive.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of June, A. D., 1915.

RIF. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

